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Justin Langer speaks to his players during day five of the first Test against Pakistan. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

In an eye-catching scene after a humiliating day three for Australia in their first step towards Test redemption, new coach Justin Langer delivered an impromptu coaching session for his left-handed batsmen out in the middle of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

After the harrowing ball-tampering scandal and the 12-month suspensions of former leaders Steve Smith and David Warner, this might have been a new-look Australian team but it had been the same old sorry tale of batting woe.

In an inept capitulation, Australia embarrassingly lost 10 for 60 against Pakistan in the first innings to be on the brink of another thrashing in Asia. For Langer, it was set to be a painful start in his tough task of rebuilding the fallen Test team.

During Langer’s training tutorial, there was no ranting or raving from the hard-nosed former Test opener. Despite his renowned passion - which can often fuel a prickly demeanor – Langer is not a hot head. He emphasized composure to Australia’s jittery batsman, who have long been spooked in the turning conditions of Asia, and reinforced the hard work done in the nets over the past month.

Langer, a highly decorated left-handed batsman during his 105-Test career, sought a collaborative effort to find ways for his southpaws to curb off-spinner Bilal Asif, who had dominated Australia’s first innings.

Taking heed of Langer’s pearls of wisdom, Australia conjured the seemingly impossible two days later by batting almost 140 overs to salvage a draw against all the odds. For such a beleaguered team, who were publicly shamed after the Cape Town calamity in March, this was a feat for a tenacious Australia to be genuinely proud of.

Led by makeshift opener Usman Khawaja, who has elevated up a spot through the suspensions of openers Warner and Cameron Bancroft, a gritty Australia played with the type of resolve and guts in tough conditions rarely displayed in recent years.

For so long, Australia had been viewed as front-runners, who would bully opponents – especially verbally – in the comforts of home but had little backbone once the going was tough. Amid a cultural change, Australia under the new leadership duo of Langer and captain Tim Paine have been trying to build a more likable but hardened team from rock bottom.

Usman Khawaja scored a brilliant century on the fifth day. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Even before the final day heroics, Australia had played with far more dignity during the first Test. Unlike the bad days, there was no foulmouthed carry on that had tarnished Australia so many times previously when things were going poorly.

From the get-go in Dubai, where Pakistan started with a 205-run opening partnership, Australia was well on the back foot but they seemed to be a far more content and cheery group. Enjoyment had returned even when their backs were firmly against the wall in a notable contrast to the surly and jaded team in South Africa.

At the very least, emphasizing the low bar for Australia post-Cape Town, Australia’s behavior in Dubai had received a tick. But a well-mannered team isn’t merely going to suffice a nation so used to on-field success. Australia needed to conjure a performance that could kick-start this new era under Langer and Paine in a determined bid to put the ball-tampering scandal behind them.

Khawaja, a talented player who has long been criticized for having a soft underbelly particularly when batting in Asia, played the type of monumental innings that will forever be remembered. Travis Head – another batsman in Langer’s sights at the end of day three – provided the type of gravitas rarely seen on debut, while Paine led by example in trademark resilient fashion and fittingly was there to steer Australia safely to a draw.

Time will tell if this will be a landmark match for Australia but undoubtedly it is the tone-setter Langer would have craved and Australia’s herculean performance under adversity is a much-needed tonic for this embattled team.

For Langer, the gutsy effort will keep the critics at bay. Even though he was the hot favorite to succeed Darren Lehmann, Langer’s appointment was met with some pushback as doubts lingered over whether he was the right person to help turnaround Australia’s rotten culture. Langer’s public statements in regards to sledging had been somewhat contradictory and some of his methods as coach of Western Australia/Perth Scorchers raised eyebrows.

It is fraught with danger to get carried away with one performance and a meandering Pakistan did seemingly go through the motions on day five. But the Langer effect feels real – much like when he transformed WA from a punch line to a powerhouse.

When he took the head coach’s role in late 2012, WA cricket was a laughing stock due to a culture marked by ill-discipline. Langer calmly simplified things but had firm rules - including banning mobile phones at training - and the players responded accordingly with the discipline noticeable on-field.

"I went in with a clear message and imparted values that I had learned from the great WA and Australian teams," Langer told me in 2016. "There had to be a buy-in to the values as we hadn't earned the right yet. The values were based on working hard, respecting the past, looking after mates and celebrating success."

As he showed in WA, Langer demands loyalty, work ethic and discipline from his players. In Dubai, Australia looked fitter, grittier and more united than before. Clearly, Langer has the gravitas and magnetism to galvanize the team.

After his first Test at the helm, Langer has impressively helped instill – along with Khawaja and Paine in particular – a dose of credibility and likability into the Australian Test side.

Australians, many of whom had turned away in disgust after Cape Town, woke up on Friday with the unusual feeling of being mightily proud of their national team.

I am an accredited cricket journalist in Australia and have covered the sport around the world. Most notably, I reported on the 2017-18 Ashes – cricket’s greatest series - from the press box and have experience in breaking news, features writing and opinion. I have written...